You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Wow, that seems like a lot of work! Is there no way we can make it less time-consuming for you?

Since I read every message anyway, it won't be any additional work to what I already do.

With the 2013 challenge, I will do a thread in which everyone will summarize their activities.

But with the 2014 challenge people will get badges as soon as they complete a milestone, so I think if they keep their threads updated, it will be the best route.

One advantage with doing badges throughout the year is that I won't be saddled with doing a whack of them all at one go in January 2015. January 2014 will see me posting badges for the 2013 year long AND the December challenge... not THAT is a lot of work! Groan.

Thanks for taking your time and energy to manage it, Janice. We appreciate it. :)

Wow, I'm new to the group and have been reading about this challenge and I love it. I read a lot of chunky books and I decided to see if I could find some on my TBR list. I just picked the ones I really want to read soon - and found 14 in an instant!
So I think I'm going to dive in and try to find more and make them all into a chain with clever connections - don't think I will have time to do that until during the Christmas break, though.
I hope I can also find some clever name for my list - but English is not my native language so that is a challenge in itself!

I'm glad you're going to join us, Bryndis. No need to find a clever name for your thread - just have fun. :)

Laura wrote: "Thanks for taking your time and energy to manage it, Janice. We appreciate it. :)"

Yes!!

Janice wrote: "One advantage with doing badges throughout the year is that I won't be saddled with doing a whack of them all at one go in January 2015. January 2014 will see me posting badges for the 2013 year long AND the December challenge... not THAT is a lot of work! Groan. "

I'm off work for the first two weeks in Jan and around, so hit me up if you want badge posting help.

Thanks Rusalka. I may take you up on that. :)

If one chooses to read a book that's not in their native language could there be a hundred page waiver (in other words 400 instead of 500 pages)?

Sara wrote: "If one chooses to read a book that's not in their native language could there be a hundred page waiver (in other words 400 instead of 500 pages)?"

You'd have to add a 100 page book to the mix to bring it up to the 500 pages.

I also have a question... I want to include The Return of the King to one of my chunksters, but the available edition is under 500 pages. However, I still haven't finished the second book (reading it forever...) so I was wondering if I can combine the second part of the second book and the third book... Can I? :)

Janice wrote: "Year Long Challenge - 2014

The challenge for 2014 is to read chunksters - books that are more than 500 pages long - and to connect them as if they were links in a chain. Some of you may say, "B..."

YAY!! I got it. Maybe if I just read this thread first I hadn't been so confused... Working on my list 8)

Kirila wrote: "I also have a question... I want to include The Return of the King to one of my chunksters, but the available edition is under 500 pages. However, I still haven't finished the second b..."

I'm afraid my answer to your question is the same as my answer to Sara above. The factor here is that the books must be read between Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2014.

Am I the only one wishing it was January already? I think I know how I'm going to ring in the new year :).

Nope. I can't wait either!

If a chunkster gets chosen for the group monthly read, and it's on my Slick's list, can I still count it towards the chunky challenge? I see at least 1 book over in the nom thread that is on my Slick's list. thanks. :)

Ooh, that's a good question.

I'm looking forward to January this year too, even though it's the start of busy season. I have this group to thank for that. :)))

Tasha wrote: "If a chunkster gets chosen for the group monthly read, and it's on my Slick's list, can I still count it towards the chunky challenge? I see at least 1 book over in the nom thread that is on my Sli..."

If it's the same as the alphabet challenge of this year, then group reads and toppler books can count towards the yearly challenge - it's just the monthly challenge books which cannot be used.

Ok, just to be clear then, if The Goldfinch wins as a monthly group read and it's on my Slick's list, it won't count towards my Slick's reads and I should change that one on my list, right?

No, it will count towards your Slick's list. You can use any book for Slicks (including monthly group reads and topplers), except the monthly challenge reads.

lol, I totally misread the response from Sarah...lol. Thanks for clarifying it...again...

No problem ;-)

Oooh, I'm so excited about starting this! And because I can't start reading the books yet, I'm thinking of other related things to do, such as creating bookshelves and reorganzing my TBR so that I have a bit of an overview of what is highest on my list to read in the coming months.

I have so many books on my TBR and when I scroll through it I often think 'oh, I should read this one soon!' but I usually forget about it again. I added many of the chunkster ones and a few others to the challenge, but I'm now really excited about organizing the others too. Maybe I like order and structure a bit too much.

Sara wrote: "Am I the only one wishing it was January already? I think I know how I'm going to ring in the new year :)."

Nope, I want to get on with it now! :)

Peggy wrote: "No problem ;-)

Oooh, I'm so excited about starting this! And because I can't start reading the books yet, I'm thinking of other related things to do, such as creating bookshelves and reorganzing m..."

I too spend lots of time ordering books in my shelves - I used to just have a read and to be read shelf but now I have a wishlist and then I reserve my TBR for books I actually own so I know what I have and what I don't. I also now have shelves for different genres! Have fun ordering Peggy!

I'm going to open a new thread on this. I'm curious to see how others have organized their shelves and it might give me some ideas on what's the best way to go about this without halfway through deciding that I want to have it differently after all.

I'm still new to this group, so I'm not sure if anyone can setup a thread for any reason, but I'm wondering....what if we setup a thread where we post our favorite chunksters, with the number of pages, genre, etc., so if people are looking for ideas, they could have a bunch that other members really loved? Seem like a good idea?

Laura wrote: "I'm still new to this group, so I'm not sure if anyone can setup a thread for any reason, but I'm wondering....what if we setup a thread where we post our favorite chunksters, with the number of pa..."

I love this idea. I'm not a big chunkster reader and I'm slowly coming up with ideas. I think this might speed up the process.

I love that idea. :)

Yay! Do I need permission to start a thread for it? And what folder should it be in? Challenge or Off Topic, or something else?

No permission needed. I'd suggest not in the challenge threads as Janice and I like things pretty tidy in those so we have some idea what we are doing. But maybe in the Chit Chat about Books section?

Thanks, Rusalka! Sounds good.

Rusalka wrote: "...as Janice and I like things pretty tidy in those so we have some idea what we are doing..."

And that can be a challenge at the best of times. Hehehe.. oh, speaking for myself of course. :)

Haha :)

I did setup a new thread in the Chit Chat folder. I hope lots of people will recommend their favorite chunkies! :D

Thanks Laura.

You're welcome!

Oh wow, might make this my first challenge attempt!
Not sure how consistent I can be through mid-year exam season but I'll give it my best - if only to reduce my to-read shelf volume :)

Ok - so I plan or doing this challenge. The operative word is plan. I did read over 35 chunksters this year but they were 400 page books and over. So, what's another 100 pages, right. But these didn't connect and I guess I will now read with an eye to what connection they have to me.

Ok - so I spent the better part of the last hour figuring our my beginning reads. Some questions -

Are rereads allowed even if the title was first read in 2013?

Do we also include our begin and end date or strikeout when finished?

Can the link be as simple as over 500 pages in both books?

Can we change titles we've listed at another time still following the parameters?

Can you tell I'm new to this challenge and feeling my way but I find it really thought provoking and exciting.

Esther wrote: "But it's funny that I have quite a few on my tbr like this, that are so close. Ah well. "

I have the same problem... it would be so much easier if the limit have been 450 pages LOL

I think there might be a psychological (or editorial) limit at 499 pages...

I was even wondering if I can combine The Divorce Papers: A Novel (496) pages and my parents' divorce judgment (which I finally got a copy of and want to extract for my genealogical studies)... That would get me at about 510 pages and are easily tied to each other ;o)

Janice wrote: "You may read books out of order as long as you stay within each milestone. So, if you are on Slick's team, you may read those 6 books in any order. You can't jump to any of the books in Mickey's team until you've finished ALL six books in Slick's team."

Wait! Do we have to decide in advance the books we'll be reading for each milestone? I am really bad about deciding what I'll read in advance... I thought I could decide as I go, as long as I can provide a link tying one book to the next... Was I wrong?

If possible, can somebody answer my questions in message #293? I am new here and would love to know how to proceed.

I think you need Janice to answer most of your questions for sure. But I guess moderators might be online a little less than usual because of Christmas.

I do know for sure that you can change titles during the year; you're not stuck to what you come up with now. Just make.sure the new books also link.

Thanks. I've been in several other challenges with other groups and I really like to know as much as possible before I begin. But we still have time and I understand that the holidays are busy times for most.

Marie Claude wrote: "Esther wrote: "But it's funny that I have quite a few on my tbr like this, that are so close. Ah well. "

I have the same problem... it would be so much easier if the limit have been 450 pages LOL
..."
Then all the books would be 445 pages. There is no winning this one. :)

Nancy wrote: "Can the link be as simple as over 500 pages in both books?..."

So far Janice has said yes to all link suggestions but I'm sure some of us could help you come up with something better as a link if you would like> :)

I can give this ago while Janice is away, BUT if Janice says I'm wrong, then it's her call I'm afraid.

Nancy wrote: "
Are rereads allowed even if the title was first read in 2013?
I believe rereads are all okay AS LONG AS you read the WHOLE book again (no skipping!!).

Do we also include our begin and end date or strikeout when finished?
Up to you, just make it clear so Janice knows.

Can the link be as simple as over 500 pages in both books?
This one I will defer to Janice, but personally, I think you need to think of a better link. As that's the qualifying rule for the challenge, and you have to then link 500+pp books, I think you need another link. But we can wait for Janice if you think I'm too Mean.

Can we change titles we've listed at another time still following the parameters?
Yup. You don't have to make a list. It's only if you like to plan. You can fly by the seat of your pants, or change your mind, but as long as the books link.

Nancy wrote: "Ok - so I spent the better part of the last hour figuring our my beginning reads. Some questions -

Are rereads allowed even if the title was first read in 2013?

Yes, rereads are allowed.

Sorry for the delay in answering. I was travelling. I left early in the morning and have just got logged on and catching up with messages.

Do we also include our begin and end date or strikeout when finished?

You may indicate completion of your book in whatever manner suits your fancy. I've even seen checkmarks which I want to figure out how to do because they look so cool.

Can the link be as simple as over 500 pages in both books?

I've been pretty loose about links. I think if you want to use page numbers, it should be a little more specific, like the link is that the two books are both 500-550 pages long. Or better yet, both books are 550 pages long exactly. But only use this link as a last resort.

Can we change titles we've listed at another time still following the parameters?

Yes, you may swap your books out as the year goes along.

Ha! I got anxious when I saw your query about needing an answer so I quickly replied. And then I clicked on the next page and Rusalka had already answered it.

Thanks for your responses Janice and Rusalka. I am sorry if I seemed overly anxious and do realize it is holiday for many here. I just can't wait to begin and while I am at home, I wanted to put in some more titles.

One last question-there are some discrepancies with page numbers ie Ar Amazon the page numbers are different from the Goodreads site and in some cases make the difference between a book with 468 pages and another site saying 515. Which number should we use?